Overview & Reviews

Owned by General Motors, Cadillac is America's most prestigious domestic luxury automaker. For most of its existence, the company was known exclusively for its cushy, senior-friendly sedans, but in more recent years the automaker has revised and expanded its lineup in a successful effort to attract a new, younger generation. Cadillac's roster now includes SUVs (its Escalade is a favorite of both rappers and suburban moms), a crossover and even a high-performance wagon.

Born in 1902, Cadillac was founded by Henry Martyn Leland, a manufacturer of automotive components. He named the company after a noted French explorer who discovered Detroit in the early 1700s. Leland helped create one of the company's earliest offerings -- the Cadillac Osceola, noted for being the industry's first concept car and the first closed-body car made in America. Only one Osceola was made, but it helped spark a trend; closed bodies caught on and spread like wildfire through the industry.

Cadillac quickly gained a reputation for specializing in precise craftsmanship and for using standardized parts. The success of early Cadillacs like the Model A and the "30" made the brand a sales success, so much so that the automaker was purchased by General Motors in 1909. The marque became GM's luxury division, and its list of innovations grew. Cadillac was the first U.S. auto manufacturer to produce a V8, the first to use thermostatic control of a cooling system and the first to offer dash-controlled headlights. During the 1930s, the brand earned a strong reputation for producing powerful and smooth V12 and V16 engines.

Soon after World War II, Cadillac history hit a high point as its tailfinned and chrome-laden cars became the epitome of American postwar automotive style. Cadillac's tailfin took its cue from Lockheed's P38 Lightning Aircraft, and was the brainchild of designer Frank Hershey. Vehicles like the Coupe de Ville and Fleetwood El Dorado made Cadillac a staple in upscale neighborhoods and among the Hollywood set.

By the 1960s, Cadillac's flashy tailfins had given way to a new styling cue: vertical taillights. This attribute was in evidence on one of Cadillac's most successful new cars of that decade, the Fleetwood Sixty Special. The Fleetwood offered luxury features that were cutting-edge for its day, such as fold-down writing tables, footrests and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

The gas crunch of the 1970s, however, started a downward trend for the company. Cadillac's Titanic-sized behemoths that ruled the highways in previous decades were increasingly out of touch and out of favor. Cadillac responded to the changing times by downscaling the dimensions of many vehicles in its lineup. Despite this smart maneuvering, the automaker's fortunes suffered in the late '70s when it unveiled a diesel engine that quickly earned a reputation for spotty performance.

The 1980s saw the redesign of the Seville, a vehicle whose unique bustle-back styling sparked a trend and inspired its share of imitators. That decade also witnessed the rollout of the Cimarron, a small car that was essentially a rebadged Chevy Cavalier, the latter an economy car not exactly known for excellence. Understandably, the Cimarron never caught on with the public. Things got worse when Cadillac launched a series of underpowered, unreliable V8s during the first half of that decade that, along with the notoriously unreliable diesel, cost the automaker thousands of customers, millions of dollars and immeasurable damage to its reputation.

By the early '90s, Cadillac started a major turnaround as it brought out redesigned, stylish models with vastly improved engines. Shortly after the new millennium bowed, the company adopted its "Art & Science" design philosophy. With styling cues that included sharp, almost severe lines and stacked headlamps, Art & Science was first seen on Cadillac's 1999 Evoq concept roadster. By the mid-2000s, this bold new look had reinvigorated the company's sales, and was seen on hits such as the Escalade SUV and the CTS sport sedan.

This fresh styling, coupled with improvements in performance and overall product quality, has done a great deal to help Cadillac recover much of its previous status. Today's Cadillacs, which include coupes, sedans, crossovers and SUVs, are known for offering powerful engines, chiseled lines, sharp handling and a full accoutrement of luxury features.

User Reviews:

• 

  Biggest Lemon EVER - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Tracy - November 7 - 1:00 am

  Bought this car brand new. Within first year, rear end was replaced, water pump, radiator, and much more was replaced in first three years. Repairs on this car is extremely high. Everything but the motor and transmission has been replaced. I was hit and insurance totaled my car because its so expensive to fix. I loved the car but not the hassle of it breaking down.

• 

  I love my 2011 SRX - 2011 Cadillac SRX
  By edward - November 7 - 1:00 am

  I am very pleased with my SRX. I have owned Cadillac in the past and they proved to be a problem. Hopefully I have not made a mistake with this vehicle. I only have 250 miles at this writing and I am pleased with the new Cadillac warranty. I agree, the transmission is sometimes confused... but I do not have a heavy foot so acceleration is fine for me. I love the styling and the car is fun to drive.

• 

  Out of lots of money - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By people champ33 - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive handles great for big car but have had so sink thousands of dollars into repairs in the shop every 3-4 months Northstar engine is crazy expensive to work on if needed. No doubt will never buy a dts again.

• 

  I love my Caddy - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By sam7759 - November 6 - 2:00 am

  This is the first Cadillac I ever owned, bought it used from carmax and love it. I never had the oil problem I read about, in fact I change my oil every 5,000 miles and had no problem at all with it. Good over the road, drove it from Los Angeles to Sacramento a few times and had a nice trip every time.

• 

  New 2009 - 2009 Cadillac DTS
  By Paul - November 6 - 2:00 am

  We traded an 06 DTS for an 09 with 985 miles. We enjoyed the 06 so much we couldnt resist the opportunity to buy an almost new one at about 16K below the sticker price. As with the 06, we are not disappointed. Few cars offer the comfortable, quiet performance of the DTS. An aging design, but like a fine wine, it seems to improve each year!

• 

  Do not buy a Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By jct - November 6 - 2:00 am

  We bought the car with 16,000 miles on it and right away we found out the car needed new tires and the wheels were way out of alignment and shortly after had a problem where it wouldnt start after filling it up with gas and had to get that fixed. at around 50,000 miles trans started to go out and finally went out at 77,000 miles and got that fixed. The same day we got the trans fixed the ac compressor froze up and it started spitting antifreeze out all over.

• 

  MY SRX A LEMON - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By John - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Couldnt wait to buy this beauty, its the best looking crossover, without a doubt, inside and out. Negatives: bad front to side vision, a ton of blind spots poor acceleration from stop rough ride gas mileage okay, runs on regular. Mine was a lemon: rear axle needed work (175 miles) rear hatch and sunroof leaked since new (burnt out rear hatch motor, leaking has not been fixed yet) sporadic "real rough" idle on cold starts molding fell off? My daughter bought the same car 2 weeks before us and she has not had any problems with hers, she loves it. GM is buying back my lemon.

• 

  Beautiful SUV /to much plastic - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By builder6 - November 5 - 2:00 am

  We love the comfort, style and look of this SUV. Its a pleasure to drive and have not experienced the wind noise problem that I have read so many complaints about. My only and biggest problem is the quality with which it was made. I owned a BMW before this and never had a problem with the build. The ESV however has one piece of plastic after the other that breaks, cracks, peels or fails in someway. From my tow hitch cover, to my door handle, to the center console what American made crap. Made in America should mean made well and with quality. They could learn something from the Germans when putting together a vehicle of this price tag.

• 

  Happy happy - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By joe silver - November 2 - 2:00 am

  I have 5600 miles so far, in regard to performance i have no complaints. As far as power goes its nore then i need, and for a 4000 pound car it moves along nicely. The ride is good for an suv/crossover. City mileage is not the greatest i am getting 15.5 mpg how ever i am getting at best on 3 long trips 28 mpg each trip, thats on the on board computer and by doing the math and keeping under 70 mph. I have had one body problem and that was the small piece on chrome molding on the drivers mirror fell off, (caddy dealer replaced it free). All in all i love the car, its a head turner!

• 

  I love my car! - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By Phillip - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Bought our 2005 DTS in 2008 with only 35000 miles. Certified Used. We love this car, big, comfortable, and good gas mileage for a tank of this size (around 26 on the highway and 19 in the city) DTS has the tighter suspension and is very agile and doesnt feel like my grandmothers "floating" DeVille. Im a tall guy at 6ft1in and it gives me plenty of room while doing the same for the rear seat passengers. Has every option and gadget and I love it. Our next Car will be a DTS!